Find Outdoor and Indoor Water Park Fun in Michigan

In the summer, the mercury can rise and conditions can get muggy and sticky in Michigan. In the winter, temperatures can drop to frozen tundra levels. Regardless of the season, water parks in the state can offer a respite from the weather. In the summer, there are plenty of outdoor water parks at which to cool down. In the winter (as well as the rest of the year), Michigan offers a surprising number of indoor water parks that can simulate a tropical getaway.

Before we run down Michigan's water parks, here are some resources to find nearby fun places and make travel plans:

The following parks are operating (some are seasonal) and are arranged in alphabetical order:

01 of 14

Avalanche Bay

Boyne Falls
Indoor water park resort

An especially large facility (billed as Michigan's largest indoor water park) located at the Boyne Mountain ski resort, Avalanche Bay's attractions include a FlowRider surf simulator, a lazy river, body slides, tube slides, a bowl ride, a huge interactive water play structure with tipping bucket, an activity pool, whirlpool spas, and a climbing wall. Admission is available for both hotel guests at the resort and for the general public.

02 of 14

Bavarian Inn Water Park

Frankenmuth
Indoor water park resort

Small park with an enclosed body slide, a bowl slide, activity pools with sprayers and other interactive elements, a zero-depth pool that offers easy access for younger children, an adult pool, and a whirlpool. Also offers a large family fun center with mini-golf and arcade games. The park is open to registered hotel guests only.

03 of 14

Flash Flood Water Park

Battle Creek
Outdoor and indoor park

Flash Flood is a small water park that is part of Full Blast, a municipal recreation center. It offers outdoor water slides, indoor water slides, zero depth entry pools, and a water playground. Although it includes indoor water park attractions, it is not open in the colder months.

04 of 14

Gold Rush Water Park at Double JJ Resort

Rothbury
Indoor water park resort

Gold Rush Water Park is medium-sized with a bowl ride, a family raft ride, a lazy river, some decent body and tube slides, a wave pool, and an interactive play center with small slides and a tipping bucket. It is open to registered hotel guests and the general public.

Continue to 5 of 14 below.

05 of 14

Great Wolf Lodge

Traverse City
Indoor water park resort

The Traverse City location is one of the Great Wolf Lodge chain's smaller parks. Its attractions include an interactive water play structure, a toboggan-style water slide, tube slide, an activity pool, body slides, and a lazy river. The water park is open only to registered guests of the hotel.

06 of 14

Red Oaks SplashTown

Red Oaks Waterpark in Michigan — Oakland County Parks

Madison Heights
Outdoor water park

Red Oaks SplashTown is a small, municipal park with a water play area, an interactive water playground, a wave pool a lazy river, and a water slide complex.

07 of 14

Soaring Eagle Waterpark

Mt. Pleasant
Indoor water park resort

Soaring Eagle is a medium-sized park with a FlowRider surfing attraction, interactive water play center with dump bucket, water slides, lazy river, log walk, and climbing wall. The park is open to registered guests and the general public.

08 of 14

Splash Universe RiverRun

Dundee
Indoor water park resort

Splash Universe RiverRun is a small park with a lazy river, tube slides, body slides, an interactive water play structure with a dump bucket, an activity pool, and a whirlpool spa. It is open to registered hotel guests and the general public.

Continue to 9 of 14 below.

09 of 14

Surfari Joe’s Indoor Wilderness Waterpark

Watervliet
Indoor water park

Surfari Joe’s is a small park with a lazy river, kids water play area, and water slides. It is open to registered hotel guests and the general public.

10 of 14

Waterford Oaks Waterpark

Waterford
Outdoor water park

This is a small, municipal park with a wave pool, a children's water playground, and a water slide.

11 of 14

Wayne County Family Aquatic Center

Detroit
Outdoor water park

This is a comparatively small municipal park with two water slides, an aquatic play area, and a wave pool.

12 of 14

WildWater Adventure

Muskegon
Outdoor water park

WildWater Adventure is one of Michigan’s largest water parks. It is adjacent to and included with admission to the theme park, Michigan's Adventure. Among the many attractions are two wave pools, a funnel ride, a lazy river, a family raft ride, multiple water slides, a water play center, and other activities for young children.

Continue to 13 of 14 below.

13 of 14

Wyndham Garden Sterling Heights

Sterling
Indoor water park resort

The hotel offers a tiny water park with a slide, a lazy river, two whirlpools, and a splash pad. It is open to registered hotel guests.

14 of 14

Zehnder's Splash Village

Frankenmuth
Indoor water park resort

Zehnder's Splash Village is a medium-sized park with water slides, a lazy river, an interactive water play structure with a dump bucket, a toddlers play area, and hot tub whirlpool. It is open to registered hotel guests only.